The Feathers, also known as the Prince of Wales, The Ostrich, and the Three Feathers, was situated in Portland Road, which at the time was known as Chapel Street. 

The picture above gives an idea of its position then and now. Just to make things a little more confusing, there was another Prince of Wales later in Montague Street.

In a census of 1871 we have  James Luff, age 34 and listed as an Inn Keeper of the Prince of Wales. Somehow, he managed, with his family,  to squeeze another six lodgers and a servant in to the same building.

In a later census dated 1891 we have Thomas Luff, age 71, at  35 Chapel Street (Portland Road). This time the building is lasted as the Feathers Inn.

Say hello to Minnie and Vi. Violet was the daughter of Mr Frederick Bowman, of 53 Portland Road, listed as the Feathers Public House. We believe that the photograph opposite is the entrance to the pub itself. It does seem to conform with the picture at the top of the page. We must bear in mind that many pubs were dining houses (not unlike today).

Sadly Frederick Bowman was found dying on Hampstead Heath in 1923. Mr Bowman took over the Feathers in 1917. Frederick was a traveller in the cigar trade, with a side-line in wine and spirits - it wasn't unusual for a landlord to have two professions at the time. Two bottles of oxalic acid were found near the body, and a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was recorded. It would appear that a drop in trade at the time led to depression that may have prompted him to take his own life.

1871 - James Luff
1891 - Thomas Ruff (Luff?)
1892 - Christopher Sallis
1914 - Edward Orford
1917 - 1923 Frederick Bowman
1923 - 1926 Widow of Bowman